The one you just called fat? He has been starving himself and has lost over 15 kilograms. The one you just called stupid? He has a learning disability and studies over 4 hours a night. The one you just called ugly? She spends hours putting make-up on hoping people will like her. The one you just tripped? He is abused enough at home. The guy on the street sniffing glue? Glue happens to be cheaper than food and takes away the hunger pains. The 16 year old girl you insulted for being pregnant? She was raped by her father…
We have all heard the expression: “First impressions last”. For many of us these first impressions are defined by appearances, success, education and wealth. By judging a book by its cover, you might be judging a messenger sent by God or even God Himself. There is no better example of this than God’s Son, Jesus. In Isaiah 53:2 where Isaiah prepared the nation for the coming of Jesus Christ, he wrote the following:
“….he had no form or majesty that we should look at him. And no beauty that we should desire him.”
From the above verse we can assume that Jesus was no oil painting. He was also not very wealthy (he was the son of a carpenter), he was not a Pharisee or a priest. Just an ordinary man. Yet, the significance of his life cannot be overemphasized.
More examples on the significance that Our Heavenly Father attaches to physical appearance can be found in John:7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment"; and 1 Samuel:16:7, "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"
Focus on the heart of the person you meet and get to know their real worth. This is what you will be judged on one day and you might just invite angels or God Himself into your home or your life.
Today, take some time to look at the way you treat and judge the people in your life. They might be God-sent and tomorrow, they might be gone before you had the time to realize their true worth.
